Stack package

ABSTRACT

A plurality of containers each have multiple pockets for articles. A rupturable cover sheet covers the pockets of each container. A peripheral flange extends substantially below the bottom of each container for telescopically engaging a container below it to removably unite the containers into a single package. The flange alternatively has detent means.

United States Patent [191 Whitecar June 5,1973

[ STACK PACKAGE [75] Inventor: Alten E. Whitecar, Westville, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Smith Kline & French Laboratories,

Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 12, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 123,613

[52] U.S. Cl ..206/42, 206/56 AB, 206/65 K [51] Int. Cl ..B6Sd 71/00,865d 83/04 [58] Field of Search ..206/42, 56 AB, 65 R,

206/65 K, 65 S, 78 B, 72, 56 A; 220/236, 97 R, 97 C, 97 D [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1970 Appelt ..220/97RX Goltz..220/23.6

Grunewald et a1. ..206/42 2,310,465 2/1943 Sanford ....206/42 3,168,1932/1965 Schechter. .....206/56 AB 2,726,786 12/1955 Bergendal .....206/65K UX 2,429,063 10/1947 Jones et al. ..206/42 X 2,746,601 5/1956 Rebichon..206/65 K Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerStevenE. Lipman Attorney-Smith, Harding, Earley & Follmer 57 ABSTRACT Aplurality of containers each have multiple pockets for articles. Arupturable cover sheet covers the pockets of each container. Aperipheral flange extends substantially below the bottom of eachcontainer for telescopically engaging a container below it to removablyunite the containers into a single package. The flange alternatively hasdetent means.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Patented June 5, 1973 3,737,026

FIG. 3

LINIQTMITLIFZ FIG. 5.

[32 38 42 44 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR ALTEN E. WHITECAR BY2'M PALM ATTORNEYS STACK PACKAGE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Blister packages for pharmaceutical tablets, capsulesand the like are well known, but their packaging is generally complexand expensive and precludes the rapid counting out for dispensing asubstantial number of individual tablets or capsules. This inventioneliminates these defects and provides for the packaging of smallarticles such as pharmaceutical tablets or capsules which is at onceinexpensive and convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A stack package for articles has a plurality ofcontainers each containing multiple pockets for articles. Means attachedto the periphery of each container telescopically engages an adjacentcontainer to removably unite the containers into a single package, saidmeans preferably being a peripheral flange having a height greater thanthe height of the remainder of the container to which it is attached. Arupturable cover sheet overlies the pockets of each container.Advantageously lines of weakness are placed at spaced intervals fordividing up each container. Detent means to releasably hold each flangeto its adjacent container may be provided, and the flanges may betapered.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one ofthe contain ers of the stack package of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through a stack package of the inventionemploying containers of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section, partially broken away, of the stackpackage of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section, partially broken away, of a modified stackpackage in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an alternative container for a stackpackage in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section, partially broken away, of a stack packageemploying containers of the type shown in FIG. 5.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, blister packagecontainer 2 for use in a stack package in accordance with the inventionhas a sheet 4 in which are formed a plurality of depending blisters 6.Each blister 6 contains a pharmaceutical tablet 8. Sheet 4 has adepending peripheral flange 10 extending substantially below the bottom11 of container 2 (FIG. 3). Flange 10 is vertically split at spacedintervals as indicated at 12. Sheet 4 is advantageously formed from amaterial conventionally used in making blister pack containers, such asfor example, rigid polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride,cellulose acetate or polyethylene.

Overlying the top of sheet 4 is a cover sheet 14 of, for example, anymaterial normally used in blister pack containers such as, metal foil,paper, cellophane, cardboard. Sheet 4 should be readily rupturable topermit the removal of a tablet 8 upwa dly therethrough. Advantageouslythe cover sheet 14 will be from about 1 to about 5 mils in thickness,and sheet 4 isadvantageously from about 10 mils to about 25 mils inthickness. Cover sheet 14 is advantageously adhered to sheet 4 by, forexample, heat sealing advantageously employing a thermoplastic adhesivesuch as, for example, a polyethylene adhesive or casein. If desired, anadhesive without heat sealing may be employed.

As seen in FIG. 2, a plurality of containers 2 are removably securedtogether by telescoping the containers together to form a unitarypackage 18 which for purposes of shipment can have transparent overwrapindicated at 20. The telescoping of a peripheral flange 10 over theadjacent peripheral flange 10 is aided by the splits 12 which permit theoutwardly flexing of flange l0.

For purposes of dispensing, the overwrap 20 is removed. If, for example,it is desired to dispense to an out-patient thirty tablets, the topthree containers 2 will be removed from package 18 providing 27 tabletsto be given to the patient. Three more tablets will be provided byremoving another container and separating it along one of theperforation lines 22 to provide three more tablets.

It will be seen that package 18 is an economical one, very compact, andvery convenient for dispensing any particular number of tablets.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the individual containers may be varied byhaving a modified flange 26 depending from sheet 4 provided with aperipheral inwardly extending lip 28 adapted to be received in aperipheral groove 30 in the adjacent flange 26 to form in effect adetent arrangement to removably lock adjacent containers together forgreater security against inadvertent separation.

An alternative blister pack container 32 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6differing from the container 2 essentially in having a taperedperipheral flange. The container 32 has a sheet 34 containing aplurality of depending blisters 36, each containing a capsule 38. Anoutwardly tapered peripheral flange 40 extends downwardly from sheet 34a substantial distance below the blisters 36. A cover sheet 42 overliessheet 34. weakened perforated lines 44 extending across sheet 34 anddown flange 40 provide for ready separation. As shown in FIG. 6, the

containers 32 are readily removably locked together by telescoping onecontainer flange 40 over an adjacent container flange 40.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative and are not intended to belimiting.

I claim: 1. A stack package comprising: a plurality of stackedtelescoped containers each having multiple article holding pockets ofa-predetermined depth,

a peripheral flange depending from each container,

having a vertical extent greater than the depth of the pockets of thecontainer to which it is attached, and being vertically slit at spacedintervals facilitat ing the telescopic engagement of an adjacentcontainer, said flanges, except the flange on the lowermost container,respectively telescopically engaging an adjacent container and removablyuniting the containers into a single package.

I III III 4 III

1. A stack package comprising: a plurality of stacked telescopedcontainers each having multiple article holding pockets of apredetermined depth, a peripheral flange depending from each container,having a vertical extent greater than the depth of the pockets of thecontainer to which it is attached, and being vertically slit at spacedintervals facilitating the telescopic engagement of an adjacentcontainer, said flanges, except the flange on the lowermost container,respectively telescopically engaging an adjacent container and removablyuniting the containers into a single package.